With films like Men, and We're All Going To The Worlds Fair, coming out this year, horror is continuing the trend of telling more than just a scary story. While scares are vital to a good horror film, an emotional core to the story can make that film even more effective. Tragic backstories, unexpected character deaths, and rug pull endings can all make up an emotionally terrifying tale.
Some horror films can, however, tell a story so emotionally scarring that the viewer forgets about the scares and reach directly for the tissues.
Eden Lake
This horror starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender is simply put, devastating. The film follows a young and in love couple trying to enjoy a peaceful vacation together when a group of teenagers has other ideas for them.
What makes Eden Lake so heartbreaking is the way it plays with the audience's emotions. It is one of those films that leads you to believe that there is hope for at least one character to get out alive, then the rug gets pulled out and audiences are left crushed.
The Mist
Even if audiences haven't watched The Mist, there is a high chance they know about its tragic ending. This Stephen King adaptation delivers in the horror department with its terrifying monsters and even more horrifying human villains.
The Mist will still go down as one of the most tragic horror films ever made, not only because of the ending but because of how the ending drifts from the source material. In the end, the characters are faced with a horrible choice, die by the monster-filled mist, or die more peacefully. Once the audience finds out help was only just behind them and they didn't have to die at all, the viewer is left completely devastated.
Silent Night
While marketed as a horror, Silent Night is truly just bleak without scares from beginning to end. The film follows a family gathering for the Christmas holiday while they prepare for an impending disaster.
The audience gets glimpses into each character's back story and holds out for them to have even the smallest glimmer of hope. When the horror does show up in certain scenes, the viewer is left more emotionally traumatized than scared due to the realistic nature of the plot. Silent Night does a great job at presenting scenes that feel real and not far out of reach, making this a horrifying watch in a way that is very unexpected.
The Gift
The Gift is a truly depressing film. It follows a couple as they are reacquainted with a man from the past. Secrets and stalking ensue, while the audience learns that nothing is what it seems.
The sadness of this film comes from the realistic nature of the plot. Knowing that humans can be so inherently evil and manipulative adds to the tragic nature of the films ending. The Gift concludes in a way where every character loses and no one is left victorious. Their actions will stay with them for the rest of their lives in a completely heartbreaking way.
Oculus
Before Mike Flanigan wowed audiences with The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, he directed the horror film, Oculus. Karen Gillian and Brenton Thwaites play Kaylie and Tim Russel, siblings trying to solve a mystery around a haunted mirror from their childhood home.
Like many other Mike Flanigan projects, Oculus covers topics related to familial trauma and tragedy. Through the film, the audience sees Tim and Kaylie's sibling dynamic and roots for them to succeed. The viewer is not so lucky and Tim and Kaylie's story reaches a tragic conclusion. When the credits roll the audience is left with a feeling of defeat as well as deep sadness, knowing the siblings deserved better.
Relic
This sad tale will leave anyone feeling heartbroken, but it will be especially tough to watch for anyone with aging parents. Neon Demon star Bella Heathcote), as they go to take care of Kay's mother. After the elderly matriarch of the family goes missing and then swiftly returns, the girls notice a sinister presence in the house.
The film covers topics of grief and fear of aging beautifully. This directorial debut from Natalie Erika James does not disappoint fans of atmospheric horror, but what viewers most about this film is its tragic and depressing tone. The film's takeaway is that life can truly slip away even before one is gone, and the real tragedy is trying to make sense of one's ever-slipping reality.
The Amusement Park
Another film that gives a tragic, but true commentary on our society, The Amusement Park is guaranteed to leave audiences upset while reaching for the tissues.
This 1973 produced film by George A. Romero wasn't released until 2021 due to the film being shelved by the Lutheran Society because of its graphic nature. The film has been described as complete nightmare fuel but when the viewer realizes the film is intended to be an educational film about elder abuse and ageism, the audience feels much more sad than terrified.
The Orphanage
The 2007 film The Orphanage is a stylish gothic horror with a heartbreaking ending. The film follows a woman named Laura as she returns, with her family, to the orphanage that she was adopted from. She plans to re-invent the facility and open it as an orphanage for children with disabilities.
This film goes beyond your typical "bump in the night" horror and tells a story that is far more tragic. What Laura experiences is every parent's nightmare, and the viewer does not get the happy ending they wish for. When a film has a plot revolving around things not ending well for children, the audience is left far more sad than scared.
Kill List
Ben Wheatley's Kill List is another memorable film known for its shocking ending. The story follows hitman Jay as he attempts to complete a three-kill job. What unfolds delves into very dark territory.
The central character Jay is put into a situation towards the end that is impossible to come back from. The viewer is left shell-shocked at what has occurred and can barely catch their breath before the credits roll.
